Collapsible filter housing for suction cleaners



G. A. BRA

COLLAPSIBLE FILTER HOUSING FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Dec. 6, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

G. A. BRACE March 16, 1954 COLLAPSIBLE FILTER HOUSING FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

W-YIII mag-2...;

INVENTOR George .4. Bruce AW2 M ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 16, 1954 COLLAPSIBLE FILTER HOUSING FOR SUCTION CLEANERS George A. Brace, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application December 6, 1952, Serial No. 324,539

20 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to a canister type cleaner of unusually compact design and high operating efliciency.

The invention features a suction cleaner havins a large capacity filter encased within a collapsible flexible walled housing so designed and arranged as to be self-supporting in its extended operating position and yet which is simple, inexpensive, of light weight and which folds readily into the cleane casing when the cleaner is not in use.

Thus, a tubular flexible housin for the filter bag has its opposite ends secured near the opposite ends of a tubular casing made in two sections arranged to fold together to collapse and conceal the filter housing when the cleaner is not in use and to open away from one another to extend the filter housing and provide a large and efllcient dirt filtering chamber when the cleaner is in use. In one arrangement, the tubular housing is connected to the interior of cupshaped casing sections hinged together at their abutting rims. Opening of the casing extends the filter housin accordion fashion into an arched chamber inter-connecting the two sections. The motor-fan unit is located in one section of the casing immediately below the closed end of a filter bag supported Within the other section. Preferably, the arrangement is such that the sections open to brin their ends into a common plane to provide a supporting base for the cleaner. This adds greatly to the stability of the cleaner as it is moved about by means of the suction hose and permit the use of the 010- sure cap for the filter as .a temporary repository for the main body of dirt While the cleaner is in use. After completing the cleaning operation, the top casing section is swung back to its storage position thereby transferring the dirt from the closure cap to the filter bag in readiness for convenient disposal upon the removal of the closure.

The tubular filter housing constituting an important feature of the invention is made of fiexible impervious material stretched over a coil spring. This spring facilitates the orderly extension and contraction of the housing but supports the latter against collapse from the air pressure differential and renders the housing self-supporting so long as the casin is open. This spring also provides adequate spacing from the walls of the filter ba for the free flow of air when the cleaner is operating.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a suction cleaner of novel design employing a collapsible, flexible walled housing for the filter bag which is selfsupporting when in its extended position.

Another object is the provision of a two-part canister type cleaner casin having a collapsible filter chamber coupled between these parts and which opens into a large self-supporting chamber when the casing parts are moved to their open, cleaner operating position.

A further object is the provision of a suction cleaner so arranged that the main body of dirt collects in the closure cap for the filter chamber while the cleaner is in use and i transferred to the filter bag as a prerequisite to the removal of the filter bag.

Still another object is the provision of a suction hose coupling which serves to hold the casing in open position as well as to hold the hose connected to the filter chamber.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel low cost suction cleaner of high operating efficiency which collapses into an unusually compact unit for storage.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification of an illustrative embodiment taken in connection with the accom- D ying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side e.'evational view partially in section of a cleaner incorporating the invention and shown in open position;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2'2 on Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a side view of the cleaner taken along line 33 on Figure 2 and showing the cleaner when collapsed for storage.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 289,640, filed May 23, 1952.

Figures 1-3 show a canister type suction cleaner having a casing formed by two generally cup-shaped sections NJ and II having aligned flat side walls [2 and 13 joined together by a hinge [4. As shown, sections In and H are similar in size and shape so that their rims abut one another when the casing i in the closed position shown in Figure o. The casing may be locked closed by a conventional toggle clamp l5 mounted on the side wall of base section l0 opposite hinge hi and engageable with a locking detent it carried by top section I l The top end of section II is formed by an end cap I! pivotally connected to wall Is by a hinge I8. The joint between end cap I! and the side walls of section I3 is along an inclined plane as illustrated in Figure 3 for a purpose which will become apparent below and is normally held in closed position as by a toggle clamp 29 and a detent 2|.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be seen that the motor-fan unit generally indicated at 22 comprises an electric motor 23 having a radially projecting supporting flange 24 at its base cradled between a pair of soft rubber rings 25 and 26. The latter are removably secured by screws to a ring-like shelf 21 attached to the inner wall of casing section H). The vertically disposed motor shaft projects downwardly below the motor base into casing 28 housing a multiple stage fan of conventional design. The inlet eye of the fan is not shown but will be understood to surround the motor shaft approximately in the plane of motor flange 24. The air discharged by the first stage of the fan immediately below the fan eye passes through an interstage into the inlet of the second stage and is discharged from the fan casing through one or more exhaust openings 29. It will be observed that the air discharging from the fan is confined to the lower end of casing H] by the rubber mounting gaskets 25 and 26 for the motorfan unit and that it exhausts from the casing through louvered openings 36.

The filter chamber comprises a flexible tubular housing 3| of any suitable impervious material. For example, it may comprise a cloth base impregnated with plastic or rubber to render it impervious to air, or it may be made of a suitable plastic such as polyethylene, or the like. This housing is stretched over a spiral wire coil 32 which coil has the same general configuration as the D-shaped configuration of casing sections I0 and H. The opposite ends of the housing are turned inwardly about the end turns of coil 32 and securely fastened thereto by heatsealing or stitching and then mounted upon sheet metal end rings 33, 34, respectively. Ring 33 fits snugly within the inner wall of casing l0 and is held in place therein as by screws 35 engaging a ring 36 removably secured to the inner side of the casing. Likewise, mounting ring 34 for the opposite end of filter housing 3| is secured by screws 38 to a supporting ring 31 mounted in the upper casing section II immediately adjacent end cap H. The individual turns of the supporting wire coil 32 are preferably held in proper spaced position within filter housing 3| as by strips of tape 33.

The filter bag proper 49 comprises an open ended tubular bag of somewhat smaller diameter than filter casing 3|. The apex of its conical bottom 4| preferably rests on the top of the conical final filter member 42. Note that conical filters 4| and 42 have different slopes to provide adequate space therebetween for the free flow of air. Final filter 42 is supported on a perforated sheet metal member 43 having its base resting on ring 36. If desired, the final filter assembly may be held in place as by a thumb screw 44 passing downwardly into the end of motor 23. This fastening means is, of course, freely accessible through the open end of the filter chamber so that it can be removed for cleaning or for the servicing of the motor. It should also be noted that the screws 35 and ring 36 are accessible through the open upper end of easing I0 and housing 3| should it become necessary to remove the motor-fan unit.

The open end 45 of filter bag may be secured in a gasket ring 46 formed to seat on the inner edge of mounting ring 31 and to be depressed into air-tight engagement therewith by the inwardly projecting flange 41 carried flush across the open inner side of end cap ll. Filter bag 40 may be made of cloth, paper or any other suitable filtering material and has the same general cross sectional shape as the cleaner casing and as the filter housing 3| but is somewhat smaller to provide an adequate passage 48 for the free flow of clean air to the suction fan.

The triangularly shaped end cap for the filter chamber has several functions. One of these is to provide a convenient location for the air inlet passage 5| which is preferably located in the end wall at the deeper side of the end cap so as to be disposed closely adjacent side wall l2 of base section |0 when section I I is in its open position. The outer flanged end of frusto-conical seating member 52 is secured to inlet 5! to receive and firmly seat a coupling generally designated on the end of suction hose 54. Coupling 50 includes a tubular fitting 53 formed to fit snugly against the inner wall of seating member 52. Surrounding fitting 53 and journaled thereon is a locking collar 55 having a pair of radially extending arms 56 and 57 which interengage with looking detents 58 and 59, respectively, to lock the hose coupling firmly in place in the cleaner. Locking detent 58 is supported on base section H] and its hooked end engages with a similarly hooked end 6| on arm 56 of the hose coupling. Likewise, locking arm 51 on the opposite side of the coupling locks behind detent 59 carried on the side wall of easing section II. It will thus be obvious that the hose is coupled to the cleaner simply by inserting the end 53 thereof into tube 52 while arms 56 and 51 of collar 55 are held in a position to by-pass detents 58 and 59. Collar 55 is then turned so that arms 56 and 5'! interlock with detents 58 and 59. The outer faces of the locking arms or of the detents may be cammed to force fitting 53 into firmer seating engagement with tube 52 as the locking collar is rotated in one direction and to relieve the seating pressure as the collar is turned in the opposite direction. Both of arms 56 and 51 cooperate in locking the hose in place in the inlet opening while detents 60 and 6| additionally co-operate with the hose coupling to lock the casing sections in open position. The cleaner may now be moved from place to place about the room by pulling on the suction hose 54 and sliding the cleaner along end cap I! and the bottom of base section l9.

The motor control switch 62 is preferably of the push-push type having a reciprocating operating plunger 63. This switch is mounted in an indentation 64 formed in the side wall of the cleaner casing in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 1. Only push button 63 is exposed and this is conveniently accessible to the toe of the operator and functions to open or close the switch each time the plunger is depressed.

Operation shape shown in Figure 1 as the casing is swung to its open position. The coil spring 32 extends along with housing 3| and resiliently supports all portions thereof in its fully extended form. Coupling 50 of the suction hose is then inserted into the inlet opening and locking collar 55 is rotated to bring arms 56 and 51 into engagement with detents 58 and 59 to lock the hose in place and the casing sections in open position.

As soon as the service cord is connected to a source of power and plunger 63 has been depressed to close motor switch 62, the cleaner is in readiness for cleaning. The operation of the motor-fan unit causes the dirt laden air stream to fiow through the suction hose and into the inlet end of the filter bag. At the same time the suction pressure of the fan expands the side walls of filter bag 40 and holds it centered within the filter chamber 3|. The air escaping through the sides of the filter passes along annular passageway 48, through final filter 42, over and through the motor to cool the same and enters the suction inlet of multiple stage fan 28'. The air discharged by the fan through ports 29 escapes from the cleaner casing by way of louvered air diffuser ports 30. The major portion of the dirt separated by the filter falls into cover I! where it collects out of contact with the side walls of .the .filter.

Upon the completion of the cleaning operation the operator disconnects the hose by turning collar 55 sufficiently to unlock it and then withdraws the coupling. This operation releases the top casing section so that it can be swung back to closed position and latched by toggle clamp [5. The accordion-like filter housing 3| collapses into the cleaner casing as does the filter bag 40. The dirt deposited in cover I! during the cleaning operation falls into the filter bag as the casing is folded.

Preferably the filter should be emptied after each cleaning operation due to the limited dirt capacity of the filter when the cleaner is folded for storage. This can be accomplished very simply by releasing toggle clamp '20 and folding end cap I! backwardly against the rear side of the cleaner. The filter may then be lifted through the top of the casing and taken to a point of dirt disposal. The empty filter is returned to the casing and end cap I! is latched in closed position.

While the filter bag is removed the final filter may be lifted from the top of the motor through the open end of the casing and cleaned. The final filter needs reconditioning quite infrequently but, as will be readily appreciated, my construc-- tion provides access to it for this purpose with a minimum of inconvenience. Likewise, the motor brushes located at the upper end of the motor may be serviced merely by removing the filter bag and final filter 42.

While it is preferable to operate the cleaner only when the casing is open, it is quite feasible to use the cleaner for short cleaning operations or those where small quantities of dirt are picked up without opening the casing. In such uses it is only necessary to connect the suction hose to the inlet opening while the casing sections are locked in closed position. The air flow at such times may be somewhat restricted because of the overlapping and folded condition of both the filter bag and filter housing 3|. Also the dirt storage capacity of the bag will be at a minimum and frequent cleaning will be necessary.

I From the foregoing detail description of one preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that the novel features and aspects of the invention may be carried out by various other structures and arrangements than the specific one illustrated without departing from the teachings or spirit of the invention. For example, it is not essential that the casing sec tions be pivotally connected so as to fold toward and away from one another since it is obvious that they may be interconnected in a variety of ways. Thus, the sections may be arranged to move axially to expand the filter chamber or in any other manner to achieve the purposes and beneficial objectives outlined herein and coming within the scope of this invention. Likewise, it is not essential that the end cap for the filter chamber be shaped as described herein or that, it be hinged to open in the manner described. As a matter of fact, it may comprise a simple closure cap which is completely removable upon the open ing of the clamping means therefor. The cap may also be turned so that the hinge is located on the opposite side of the casing from hinge M. In this event the suction inlet may be on the end of the end cap and opposite the base section of the main casing. In this event the coupling for the flexible hose cannot be readily used to clamp the casing sections in open position, and a separate latching means can be utilized for this purpose.

While I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A suction cleaner comprising two cup-like casing sections, means pivotally connecting said sections together so that their rims can be folded into registry for compact storage or opened for cleaning operation to lie in side by side positions with their open rims facing upwardly, a motor-fan suction unit supported in one of said sections, a collapsible flexible walled filter chamber impervious to air adapted to be collapsed and housed within said casing sections when the latter are folded for storage, one end of said chamber being supported within one casing section and its other end being supported within the other casing section and being extendable to provide a large capacity filter chain-ber when said casing sections are in said open cleaner operating position, a collapsible filter bag supported within said filter chamber, and means for conducting a dirt laden air stream into said filter bag.

2. A suction cleaner having a two part casing comprising two cup-shaped sections the rims of which can be brought into registry for compact storage, means pivotally connecting said sections so that the sections can be opened to lie in side by side relation, a flexible walled collapsible filter chamber having its opposite ends connected one to the interior of each of said sections and arranged to be enclosed therewithin when said sections are in closed position for storage and being extendable as said sections are pivoted to open position to provide a large capacity filtering chamber, a collapsible filter bag housed within said filter chamber having an inlet end supported within one of said casing sections, and means including power-driven suction means in said casing for conducting a dirt laden air stream into said filter inlet and for removing the clean airescaping through the walls of said filter.

3. A tank type suction cleaner comprising, a casing closed at its opposite ends and being separable into two sections at a joint located in a plane passing therethrough between said ends, a motor-driven suction unit housed within one of said casing sections, means movably connecting said casing sections together so that the sections can be moved into abutment with one another for compact storage or opened away from one another into an extended cleaner operating po ition, tubular means having flexible, air impervious walls forming an extendable filter housing, means connecting the. ends of said tubular means one to each of said casing sections, a filter bag housed within said tubular means in spaced relation to the walls thereof to provide an air passage, and means for conducting a dirt laden air stream into said filter bag.

4. A suction cleaner having a collapsible filter chamber comprising, a casing closed at its opposite ends and separable into two sections on a plane intermediate said ends, flexible tubular means forming a filter chamber having its opposite ends connected one to each of said casing sections, said flexible tubular means being readily collapsible to occupy a minimum of space for storage or extendable to provide an elongated large capacity filter chamber, means movably connecting said casing sections together so that the mating edges thereof can be moved together to provide a compact closed casing or moved away from one another to extend said tubular means to provide a large capacity filter chamber, and a collapsible filter bag housed within said filter chamber.

5. A suction cleaner as defined in claim 4 ineluding a power-driven suction means housed within one of said casing sections and having an air inlet opening into one end of said filter chamber, means providing a dirty air inlet to said filter bag, reinforcing means supporting said tubular filter chamber against radial collapse due to the pressure differential thereacross when 6. A suction cleaner comprising, a cup-shaped K main. casing section, an open ended casing section having one end arranged to mate with the open end of said main section, a flexible accordion-like tubular means having one end secured to the walls of said cup-shaped section's and its other end secured to the remote end of the other casing section and providing an'axially collapsible filter chamber, an open ended filter bag adapted to be removably seatedacross the remote end of said last mentioned casing section, a removable closure for said remote casing end having an air inlet passage therethrough, a power-driven suction unit in said main casing section, means movably interconnecting said casing sections so that the mating ends thereof can be brought together to hold said tubular means collapsed or moved out of mating engagement-to extend said tubular means axially thereof to provide a large capacity filter chamber, and means for holding said casing sections and said filter chamber in the extended positions thereof.

T. A suction cleaner comprising, an open topped main casing, a motor-fan unit mounted therewithin, a cover having one edge: pivotally connected toisaid main casing and being. pivotable through an arc exceeding a flexible walled tubular member having its lower end connected to the interior of said main casing and its upper end connected to the interior of said cover, said tubular member being impervious to air and being axially collapsible and extendable as said cover is swung toward and away from the top of said main casing, a resilient coil spring co-axially mounted within said tubular member to support the same against collapse when said motor-fan unit is operating, a flexible walled filter supported in spaced relation to the inner walls of said tubular member, and means for releasably holding said cover in the open position thereof and said tubular member extended to provide a large capacity chamber for said filter.

8. A collapsible suction cleaner having a 0315-. ing closed at its opposite ends and having a separable joint intermediate said ends dividing said casing into first and second sections, a motordriven suction unit supported in said first section having an inlet in communication with said sec end section, an axially collapsible and extendable flexible walled tubular filter chamber housed within said casing and having its opposite ends supported against the inner Walls of said first and second casing sections, hinge means connecting said casing sections so that one section may be pivoted through an arc of substantially with respect to the other section and from a position in which the joint between said sections is closed to a position in which said sections are arranged one beside the other and wherein said filter chamber is extended to provide an arcuate tubular chamber interconnecting said sections, coil spring means in close contact with the walls of said tubular chamber and co-axial therewith for supporting said Walls and for holding the same in extended arch form when said sections are in open position, a tubular filter bag of smaller cross section than said filter chamber and supported therewithin, and an airinlet passage for dirty air extending through said second casing section and into said filter bag.

9. A collapsible suction cleaner as defined in claim 8 including a suction hose coupling adapted to be coupled to said air inlet, and means associated with said coupling and cooperable with said casing sections to lock said hose coupling within said air inlet and to lock said casing sections in openposition.

10. A collapsible suction cleaner as defined in claim 8 wherein the opposite ends of said casing sections lie in a common plane when said sections are in open position and cooperating to provide a commcn supporting base for said cleaner.

11. A collapsible suction cleaner as defined in claim 9 wherein the opposite ends of said casing sections lie in a common plane when said sections are in open position to provide a common supporting base for said cleaner and wherein said air inlet passage and suction hose coupling are located in a side wall of said second casing section whereby said cleaner may be moved across the floor by pulling on a suction hose connected to said inlet.

12. A collapsible suction cleaner as defined in claim 8 wherein aligned portions of the side walls of said casing sections are flat and wherein said hinge means interconnects the abutting edges of said fiat walls.

13. A collapsible suction cleaner as defined in claim 12 wherein said tubular filter chamber and the coil spring support therefor have a fiat side positioned opposite the flat side walls of said casing sections.

14. A collapsing filter housing for a suction cleaner comprising, a flexible tubular envelope formed of material impervious to air, a mounting ring in the opposite ends of said tubular envelope, a coil spring of substantially the same size and contour having its ends secured to said mounting rings and lying against the wall of said envelope for supporting the same against collapse due to sub-atmospheric suction pressures prevailing within said envelope when the same is in use, a filter bag within said envelope having an open end adapted to be supported across one end of said envelope, a closure cap for said one end of the envelope for holding the open end of said filter sealed thereto, means for connecting a suction unit to the other end of said envelope, said envelope and filter bag being axially collapsible into a compact unit when not in use, and means for holding said envelope and filter in collapsed position.

15. A filter assembly for a suction cleaner comprising, a large diameter coil spring, a flexible walled covering closely encircling said spring, said covering being impervious to air and readily collapsible when the opposite ends of said spring are depressed toward one another, a dirt filtering bag of smaller cross-sectional area than said spring and having an open end adapted to seat within and across one end of said spring, a cover for filter bag, means for releasably clamping said cover and the open end of said filter to the end of spring, said cover having a suction air inlet therethrough, means for connecting a suction unit to the other end of said spring, and means for holding the opposite ends of said spring and the covering therefor in an axially collapsed position for storage when said assembly is not in use and for releasing the same for extension to the full size thereof when it is desired to use the same for suction cleaning purposes.

16. A filter assembly for a suction cleaner comprising, a large diameter coil spring, a covering closely embracing said spring made of thin flexible material impervious to air and cooperating with said spring to provide a self-supporting housing for a filter bag, a filter bag within said housing having an air inlet, closures for the opposite ends of said housing one of which is removable and provided with an air inlet connected to the inlet of said filter, hinge means interconnecting the opposite ends of said filter housing and operable to compress the ends of said spring toward one another to collapse said filter housing into a compact unit for storage, said hinge means also being operable when moved in the opposite direction to expand said filter housing into an arched tubular chamber of large capacity whereby said filter bag can expand to its maximum size in response to a suction air pressure applied to the space between the exterior of said filter and the interior of said filter housing, and means for holding said filter housing in the collapsed position thereof.

17. A collapsible suction cleaner comprising a casing formed in two sections having mating rims arranged to close against one another to provide a compact storage enclosure for a dirt filter and a power driven suction unit, hinge means interconnecting said casing sections so that one section can be pivoted away from the other section when said cleaner is in operation, means for holding said casing section in the open operating position thereof, a power driven suction unit housed within one of said casing sections, a collapsible flexible walled filter chamber impervious to air interconnecting said casing sections, said flexible walled filter chamber being readily extendable to provide a large capacity filter chamber when said casing sections are in said open operating position, a collapsible filter bag supported within said filter chamber, and means including said power driven suction unit for conducting a dirt laden air stream into said filter bag and for discharging filtered air from said cleaner.

18. A suction cleaner having a collapsible filter chamber comprising, a casing made in two sections having rims enclosing areas of a similar shape and size and forming an enclosure for a collapsible filter chamber when closed toward one another for compact storage, means movably interconnecting said sections for limited movement away from one another to the open positions thereof so that said cleaner casing sections can be extended for use, means for holding said casing sections in said extended open position, tubular means having flexible air impervious walls forming an extendable and collapsible filter housing, means connecting the ends of said tubular means one to each or said casing sections, a filter bag housed within said tubular means, said filter bag having a smaller cross-sectional area than said filter chamber to provide an air flow passage between the walls of said filter and filter chamher, and means for conducting a dirt laden air stream into said filter and for discharging filtered air from said cleaner.

19. A suction cleaner as defined in claim 18 including reinforcing means lying against said flexible walled filter chamber and operable to hold said walls against collapse toward the axis of said tubular filter chamber when said cleaner is in use.

20. A collapsible filter housing comprising, a flexible tubular envelope formed of material impervious to air, a filter bag mounting ring secured across one end of said envelope, a closure member for said one end of said envelope having an air inlet opening therethrough, said closure member being formed to clamp a filter bag securely in place on said mounting ring so that the inlet thereof is in communication with the air inlet opening in said closure member, a filter bag clamped to said mounting ring and enclosed by said envelope, a motor-fan unit, a housing for said motor-fan unit, mean securing the end of said tubular envelope opposit said one end to said motor-fan unit housing, said motor-fan unit being operable to draw air in through said closure inlet opening into said filter, through the walls thereof, and to then discharge filtered air from the housing for said motor-fan unit, and means for holding said tubular envelope extended when the same is in use.

GEO. A. BRACE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,655,875 Orr Jan. 10, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,674 Great Britain Jun 18, 1914 

